Body Recovered from Lake Travis is Rachel Scott

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 10, 2018

Body Recovered from Lake Travis is Rachel Scott

On May 19, 2018 Rachel Scott went missing on Lake Travis. Friends and other witnesses reported that she fell from the top tier of a party barge and struck her head on the lower tier before sliding into the water. Several passengers dove into the water in an attempt to rescue her, but were unsuccessful.

Dive teams from TCSO, Austin Police Department and Houston Police Department searched for Rachel in the days that followed the incident. Throughout the summer, both TCSO and APD conducted additional search missions. On October 4, 2018 members of APD’s EOD Dive Team located the body of a female in the vicinity where Rachel was last seen, at a depth of 117 feet. The body was recovered the following day.

The Travis County Medical Examiner has positively identified the body as Rachel Scott. Cause and Manner of death are pending the final report.

The Scott family has offered the following statement:

Our family will be eternally grateful to the dive teams of the Travis County Sheriff’s Office and the Austin Police Department, along with other supporting agencies, for their unwavering commitment to completing the nearly impossible task of recovering our daughter Rachel Scott. We are so appreciative of their determination and persistence, and we want to thank each and every one of the many dedicated law enforcement personnel who worked tirelessly to find Rachel and bring her home. The incredible outpouring of support and prayers from friends and complete strangers in this community has meant so much and continues to help us as we navigate our way through this very sad time. Rachel was our beautiful and loving daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, and friend. We ask that you honor Rachel’s memory by continuing her legacy of bringing joy and kindness into the world.